My expectations, needless to day, were greatly exceeded. In short, this is one of the best outings Final Fantasy has had in nearly two decades. The combat is both stylish and substantive, granting an amount of ability customization, balance, and option-selecting that I did not anticipate, while also just being damn fun. The story, unlike most recent mainline FFs (especially 13 and 15), is fairly simple, but I found it very compelling, and the characters to be extremely likable and well-acted (this game's English dub is spectacular). Some of the best boss fights in any game I've ever played, too, with a great balance of substantive challenge and jaw-dropping spectacle.
There are flaws to be sure - the world design is fairly constrained, the frame rate is a bit inconsistent, and some side quests are decidedly dull - but the holistic experience is one I won't soon forget. Easily my favorite FF since the PS2 era.